The Grandest Celebrated Cap Go Meh in the past 52 years

The Grandest Celebrated Cap Go Meh in the past 52 years

Posted on 18 March 2011

Cap Go Meh, literally meaning the 15th day of the first month in the Chinese Lunar Year, is also the last day and highlight of Chinese New Year celebrations. In Indonesia it is by tradition celebrated in many cities that have significant number s of Chinese communities.

Starting from the 30th day of the 12th month of the past year, the Cap Go Meh celebrations in Bandung, West Java, was one of the most important events for the Chinese population here. Historical districts where they first settled in Bandung became the venue for the event, where the parade was held along the popular Chinatown area around the KelentengStreet district. For Bandung, the festivity this year was the most fantastic Cap Go Meh ever held in the past 52 years. Similar festivities also took place several kilometers away in the tranquil city of Sukabumi. More than a hundred colourful barongsai and liongs – dragons and lions - livened up the celebrations with thousands of spectators flocking to the main street taking part in the fanfare. With the spirit of growing in wisdom and love within a healthy and prosperous city environment, the celebrations of Cap Go Meh in both cities showed both sincere devotion to the Almighty, as well as harmony among people of different ethnic groups.

Photos no 1-21 by Anggun Nugraha, 22-24 by Mario Leonard, and 25-32 by Veronica Lilian.

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The amazing rarely-seen blue liong, the mythical dragon, was noisily paraded along the Kelenteng Street inBandung, West Java. During this Cap Go Meh celebration or the 15th day of festivity in the first month of the Chinese lunar year, - which in Indonesia is called imlek, - 20 liong (dragons) were spiritedly paraded.

A police officer cleared the entire Kebon Jati Street. so that the Cap Go Meh carnival could pass through. Kebon JatiSt. is one of the oldest districts that make up the city’s Chinatown.

A boy, with a liong dragon toy in his hand, stood by one of the old houses on Kelenteng St. To him, the celebration was the first time he witnessed such magnificent parading dragons.

Liong dragons were sold during the preliminary session of Cap Go Meh celebrations. Not only were children attracted to these vibrant red, green, and golden liongs, adults were also fascinated by them.

Participating members of the Ever Green, one of the groups taking part in the parade, gathered under a shady corner to avoid the scorching sun. They waited around the Kelenteng Streetwhere it all commenced.

In Indonesia’s Chinatowns , Chinese community members traditionally mingle socially and culturally with other ethnic groups rather than remain exclusive . A Chinese boy here sat with his playmates.

As show of social cohesiveness, a group of Sundanese traditional dancers participated in the celebrations, marching ahead of their Chinese counterparts.

A girl with a peacock-style traditional costume sat on a carriage with her guardian, a wayang orang, one of the characters in the Mahabharata epic story now very much part of the local Sundanese culture.

Another Sundanese performing art, the ketuk tilu, originating from the pencak silat – an Indonesian martial art- was performed as the parade marched down Kelenteng St.

The first group of red liong bearers paced through the narrow street that was packed with thousands of spectators from the vicinity and from out of town. Red symbolizes life, fire, good luck, or fortune.

Animated rambles of a red liong dragon fascinated the culturally captivated spectators. It was the biggest Cap Go Meh parade ever in the last 52 years.

Cap Go Meh originates from the agricultural culture from way back when. While the Liong dragon is a symbol of power to prevent floods. Several liong dragon-bearers carrying the poles that make up the dragon’s body sway harmoniously imitating the slithering movements of the mythical ophidian.

Among the 12 characters in the Chinese shio (or calendar) the dragon is believed to be the ultimate excellence. Nine prop-bearers are traditionally involved, with substitutes ready to replace the exhausted ones.

The bearers of the Toa Pe Kong strugged to find space to move forward at the Kebon Jati St., Bandung as the path became very crowded . Toa Pe Kong literally means ‘great old brother’, a designation of gods or ancestors who pioneered the long journey during the Chinese Diaspora.

This Blue dragon was twisting and turning, captivating the staggered spectators. In Ganzhi, - the Chinese system of orientation,- the blue dragon is the bearer of the east, the rainy season, and autumn.

The Yellow dragon was the last one to appear near the end of the parade. Yellow indicates the color of a king. Dragon is the symbol of kindness and prosperity.

The yellow dragon team displayed the twisting and turning movements of a dragon. One liong dragon can reach up to 35-meter long, and is divided into 9 sections.

Red lanterns are traditionally part of the carnival. Long ago, a nian, orevil spirit, was scared off by the red color and the light. Therefore, the presence of a red lantern is believed to prevent bad luck and maintain prosperity.

A member of the Lion Dance was giving instructions to the red liong dragon bearers.

The Green dragon in Feng Shui translates into a series of hilly highlands, and the presence of a dragon, bearer of good fortune. Bandung is a city characterized by green mountains and is a source of good fortune for its residents.

A smiling girl with a decorated headgear was casting her charm during the end of the parade. The parade was initiated and organized by the Vihara Dharma Ramsi located at Gang Luna on Jalan Cibadak, Bandung.

Within a peaceful surrounding of a temple, a solemn prayer was sent up by this elderly man as the ritual of Cap Go Meh commenced in Sukabumi.

Just like dragons in legends of ancient times, this highly skilled young man blew flames from his mouth, dazzling the spectators with this stunt.

The colorful and frisky barongsai - or lion - danced through the street, giving spectacular performances for the audience.

More than a hundred barongsais and liongs took part in the grand celebration of Cap Go Meh in Sukabumi.

Posing in front of a gallant barongsai, the smiles of these two spectators capture the joy and festal atmosphere of the celebrations.

The streets of Sukabumi became an ocean of people, as performers, spectators, young and old, men and women, flocked together to celebrate this grand festival.

An Angpao or gift was given to a barongsai as a sign of appreciation from a satisfied spectator.

Not only did the celebrations highlight Chinese cultural performances, it also featured traditional Sundanese dances, marking a strong bond between the different cultures in Sukabumi.

Slithering down the street, a gigantic liong dragon with its bright colors stunned the crowds in sheer amazement.

The liong greeted visitors as it paid a visit to one of the local shops.

The festival was not only about barongsai and liong as this horse also performed a unique traditional Sundanese Kuda Renggong or dancing horse.